Shelby County Tennessee Braces for Possible Flooding

Rising flood water levels could cause record-breaking flooding this month along the Mississippi River. Flood waters are threatening to destroy over 5,000 homes and businesses in Shelby County, Tennessee. Officials are warning residents in and around Memphis to be ready to evacuate before the Mighty Mississippi crests at its predicted 48 feet next week.

Portions of the Mississippi Delta are starting to flood, sending wildlife scrambling to dry land, submerging golf courses, shutting down riverboat casinos and forcing many residents to leave their homes. In Memphis, residents of a well-to-do enclave on Mud Island live in homes that are usually far above water levels but now muddy water is lapping at the back porches of some of the island's nicest homes. Mud Island sits on the banks of the Mississippi.

In southern Memphis, many residents are spending their fourth day already in local shelters as they had to flee their homes that were located many of the low-lying neighborhoods that are already flooded. The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency set up a staging area today at the Raleigh Springs Mall so that emergency personnel can fan out and warn potential flood victims door to door that they will most likely be told to leave their homes.

Someone is already preying on the fears of people in Memphis by distributing fliers in flood prone areas which tell people to 'get out now'. The Shelby County EMA is telling residents that the fliers are not official and that they should be ignored because they have been distributed by someone who wants to break into unoccupied homes. The EMA also said that its official agency fliers will go out today, telling residents what they need to know regarding evacuating.

Tensions are running high in Shelby County as the area will very likely see historic flooding over the next ten days or so. Shelby County residents are being told to pack emergency bags with necessities including medications, flashlights, insurance policies and first aide supplies in case they are forced to evacuate. Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell is working on disaster plans with Memphis Mayor A.C. Wharton and other suburban mayors. Rivers and creeks are quickly rising in the western portion of Shelby County and flood waters could very well start to rise in many areas through storm drains.

Local resources for flooding and water damage cleanup in the Memphis TN and Shelby County Tennessee region:

memphis water damage restoration
memphis flood water damage cleanup